Explorers & Conquests
Which European explorer completed multiple voyages across the Atlantic and is credited with reaching the Americas in 1492?
Christopher Columbus
What was the name of the three-legged trade system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas?
Triangular Trade
What was the Middle Passage?
The transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas
What was one way Spanish missions affected Native Americans?
They were forced to convert to Christianity
Why did the British want control of French territory in North America?
To profit from the fur trade and fishing grounds
What was the significance of Bartolomeu Dias’s expedition?
Proved it was possible to sail from Europe to the Indian Ocean
How did the defeat of the Aztec and Incan empires benefit Spain?
The monarchy received a portion of all treasures taken by the conquistadors
What was the main cause of death among captives on the Middle Passage?
Disease spread quickly in tightly packed ships
How did the introduction of horses impact Native American culture?
Used for hunting and warfare
What role did Samuel de Champlain play in French exploration?
Founded the colony of New France
What happened when Cortés and his soldiers first arrived in Tenochtitlán?
Moctezuma welcomed them as honored guests
What is mercantilism?
An economic system where nations seek to maximize exports and minimize imports to increase wealth
How did some African kingdoms contribute to the Atlantic slave trade?
They captured and sold people in exchange for weapons and goods
What generalization can be made about Native American experiences on Spanish missions?
They endured long hours of hard labor
Why did the Puritans come to North America?
To escape religious persecution and seek economic opportunities
What role did Vasco da Gama play in the growth of the Portuguese Empire?
Led the first European expedition to reach India by sea
How did inflation affect Europe in the 1500s?
Caused by an increase in demand for goods
How did chattel slavery in the Americas differ from ancient slavery?
It was lifelong and hereditary
What was the economy of colonial Brazil based on?
Gold, sugar, and other cash crops such as tobacco and coffee
What was the correct order of the social pyramid in Spanish colonial society?
Peninsulares → Creoles → Mestizos & Mulattoes → Africans & Native Americans
Why did Dutch colonies in the Americas fail to attract as many settlers as English colonies?
Fewer people in the Netherlands were dissatisfied with their lives compared to England
What is an example of capitalism from this era?
Merchants and landowners investing in new businesses
Describe two hardships faced by enslaved Africans from capture to forced labor.
Chained together, lack of food, disease, harsh punishments, forced separation from families
What was the primary cause of the significant population decline in Jemez Province, NM during the 1600s?
Diseases brought by missionaries
What was the most appropriate title for the chart comparing Aztec and Incan civilizations before and after Spanish conquest?
Aztec and Incan Empires Before and After Spanish Conquest